MONDAY 8 JULY 2019 SPORT 17 The confidence that an Australian South Africa captain Faf TENNIS FOOTBALL team comes into a World Cup with du Plessis rates Australia is just like an extra player on your as top contenders to win Wimbledon: Men’s and Africa Cup of Nations: the ICC World Cup. Women’s Round of 16 Ghana vs Tunisia team. ACTION TODAY’S India in top shape ahead No doubt it is the toughest of NZ semi-final: Bumrah cycle race in the world. We are AFP with and with the bat. aiming to make LEEDS There’s a healthy it our trademark: competition. In-form Jasprit Bumrah says “It’s a good headache to have Haroon General, India have a “good headache” when everyone’s performing and President of the with every player in top form everyone’s in good nick and Pakistan Cycling going into tomorrow’s World that’s something you love to have Federation. Cup semi-final against New going into a crucial game like Zealand. next week’s semi-final,” he Pace bowler Bumrah added. claimed three wickets in India’s The 25-year-old Bumrah has win over Sri Lanka on Saturday taken 17 wickets in eight innings, at Headingley, with Virat Kohli’s while his Indian pace partner side taking top spot in the final Mohammed Shami has picked group table. up 14 scalps in four outings. Australia’s loss to South Tell Bumrah that he has led Africa on Saturday means India the attack with aplomb and the face New Zealand in the first premier fast bowler says that it semi-final in Manchester, while is a combined effort. Aaron Finch’s side take on hosts “I don’t take praise or crit- England in Birmingham on icism seriously,” said Bumrah. Thursday. “The only focus for me is on Opening batsman Rohit my preparation, my execution This June 30, 2019 file photo shows cyclists taking part in Sharma scored his record fifth and what I can do for the team. the Tour de Khunjerab. century in a single World Cup on “You see Hardik Pandya taking wickets, you see ICC WORLD CUP 2019 Mohammad Shami taking Tour de Impossible? POINTS TABLE wickets and I’ve also taken wickets, so that’s the positive for India’s Jasprit Bumrah RANK/TEAM M W L N/R PT us going forward.” celebrates taking the Pakistan play host 1: India 9 7 1 1 15 Bumrah’s fine form has of Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera impressed former India captain 2: Australia 9 7 2 0 14 on Saturday. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who to ‘world’s toughest 3: England 9 6 3 0 12 believes the paceman is now 4: New Zealand 9 5 3 1 11 established as the fulcrum of the 5: Pakistan 9 5 3 1 11 Saturday and lead the tourna- when he names his line-up for team’s bowling attack. race’ in Khunjerab ment’s batting charts with 647 the semi-final. “He really is the leader of the 6: Sri Lanka 9 3 4 2 8 runs. “Everybody’s had a good run Indian attack,” Srikkanth wrote AFP tumbling aquamarine rivers. 7: South Africa 9 3 5 1 7 Kohli has hit five half-cen- here. It’s been a good campaign in his ICC Media column. KHUNJERAB Landslides are common. 8: Bangladesh 9 3 5 1 7 turies to play a key part in his for us,” Bumrah said after “He is the main weapon, he Guardrails are a flimsy sug- 9: West Indies 9 2 6 1 5 team’s seven victories in nine becoming the second fastest takes wickets, he can put on the Finishing nearly 5,000 metres gestion of protection from steep group games and Bumrah Indian bowler to claim 100 ODI brakes when the opposition are above sea level after hundreds falls of hundreds of feet. 10: Afghanistan 9 0 9 0 0 believes the skipper has a wealth wickets. getting on top, he can do of kilometres winding past “There is no place in the of quality options to pick from “Everybody has chipped in everything.” blackened glaciers and snow- world that offers all these capped peaks: a new Pakistani things,” said Ahmed. race presents a world-class chal- “No doubt it is the toughest ICC WORLD CUP STARS FOR THE FUTURE lenge for cyclists -- climbing cycle race in the world. We are England won’t be scared by towards the “Roof of the World”. aiming to make it our With the ICC World Cup heading into the semi-finals, the The Tour de Khunjerab -- its trademark,” said Haroon General, tournament is set for a dramatic conclusion featuring some of name a homage to its more President of the Pakistan Cycling the game’s finest talents. But the group stage also introduced run chase, warns Bayliss famous French counterpart, Federation. the world to several vibrant young talents set to dominate which began on Saturday -- is “The most difficult part of for years to come. Here, we look at five players who AFP better now than they were still many years away from being the race is the final stage where have announced their arrival as potential stars: LONDON earlier in the tournament. another Big Loop, but with a cyclists face shortage of oxygen Nicolas Pooran (West Indies) We are full of confidence solid claim to being the highest and there is risk of heart issues... Nicolas Pooran finally showcased the talent he has promised England coach Trevor and happy to be in the cycling race in the world, it has At such an altitude a person falls to unleash for so long as the batsman finished as the West Bayliss (pictured) has semi-finals.” a lot to offer a certain type of down (faints) after running for Indies’ leading run scorer. The 23-year-old made a duck on his warned Australia that his Asked about losing to athlete. 200 metres, but our cyclists trav- ODI debut before the World Cup but went on to play each of side won’t crack under Australia earlier in the In the last week of June, elled for almost 59 kilometres,” the team’s nine group games, scoring 367 runs at an average pressure if they have to bat tournament, Bayliss added: some 88 cyclists, including two he said. teams from Afghanistan and Sri Five ambulances were on of 52.42. West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick had seen second in Thursday’s “I think it was more to do World Cup semi-final. with the way we Lanka as well as solo participants standby in case of emergencies Pooran’s potential five years ago when he scored 143 in an Bayliss’s side lost to approached the game. from Spain and Switzerland, took in the final stage, he said, Under-19 World Cup match against Australia. Australia at Lord’s in the “We came in off a bad part in its second edition. adding: “A majority of the Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) group stage after failing to loss to Sri Lanka in the Less than half completed it cyclists made it but the support Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi enjoyed a breakthrough chase down the holders’ game before where we got within the allotted time. staff needed ambulances.” - World Cup campaign, prompting Wasim Akram to hail the total of 285-7. completely away from our The four stages -- three ‘Breathless’ - The winner of the teenager as a future star. The teenager recorded Pakistan’s England were bowled style of play I guess and I ranging from 68 to 94 kilometres event, Najeeb Ullah -- a Pakistani best-ever World Cup bowling figures with a scintillating spell out for 221 against Australia think there was still a bit of (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter from a hilltop village in the of 6-35 in Friday’s win over Bangladesh at Lord’s. He became and also lost to Pakistan a hangover in that next time trial -- are much shorter southwestern province of Balo- the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul at the World and Sri Lanka after batting chasing down a score at match. than many other cycling events. chistan who won three of the Cup at 19 years and 90 days, finishing the tournament with 16 second. Edgbaston. “After that the boys But there is one funda- four stages -- saidthat breathing wickets in five games. Those defeats raised “Over the past four made a commitment to mental difference: the Pakistani was a “problem” for him in the Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan) concerns about the World years we have won 14 of going out -- win, lose or Tour starts at 1,500 metres final climb. Afghanistan may have left the World Cup winless after losing Cup hosts’ ability to cope the last 17 times we have draw -- to play to their above sea level, and never stops “I had to face a lot of diffi- BBC all nine matches, but the minnows could take heart from the with the stress of run batted second,” he told strengths and we did that climbing. culties while reaching the fin- Radio 5Live’s Sportsweek The final day of this year’s ishing line,” located at the Khun- rise of teenage off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Mujeeb took chasing. in the next two games and But Bayliss has no con- programme. put in a good performance event sums up the challenge. jerab Pass, the border between just seven wickets in the tournament, but the 18-year-old cerns that England will “So batting second so it is about sticking to our Starting at 2,800 metres -- Pakistan and China, he said. tormented batsmen with his crafty use of flight and variation, panic if they find them- doesn’t scare our guys and processes and how we play higher than the Iseran Pass, the Especially since altitude was marking him out as one to watch. selves in the position of the wickets are a little well.” summit of the -- not the only obstacle: On the Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka) it ends at 4,700 metres, just over final day, fierce winds drove When Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne reflected on a 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, snowflakes into the cyclists’ frustrating campaign for the 1996 champions, the promising Europe’s highest mountain. faces, forcing some already form of fearless batsman Avishka Fernando put a smile back Anderson suffers calf injury The Khunjerab Tour must struggling to catch their breath on his face. become “an attraction... for the to dismount. The 21-year-old scored 203 runs in only four matches in the most daring and adventurous Organisers said in some sec- tournament, including 104 against the West Indies and 49 in REUTERS felt tightness in his right Championship matches cyclists in the world”, said Usman tions the competitors faced a Sri Lanka’s shock win over England. “We’ve had a few posi- LONDON calf and underwent an against Northants and Ahmed, the top official for the gradient of 20 percent, an angle tives out of this World Cup,” Karunaratne said. “Avishka MRI scan on Friday which Sussex.” northern Gilgit region, home to rarely seen in such competitions some of the planet’s tallest peaks in around the world. Fernando is playing really well. England fast bowler confirmed a muscle tear. The ECB said they and where the race was held. At each stage organisers James Anderson suffered “The MRI confirmed would reassess his injury a calf muscle tear last that Anderson has suf- before England’s one-off The cyclists’ tyres swallow wearing construction helmets Tuesday while playing for fered a low grade calf test against Ireland at up the asphalt of the Karakoram scrutinised the surrounding moun- county side Lancashire muscle tear,” the ECB said Lord’s, which begins on Highway, one of the highest tains, peering closely for any sign and he will be reassessed in a statement. July 24, before making a paved roads in the world. of the rockfalls that periodically ahead of the first Ashes “As a result of the call on whether he would Named after the Karakoram smash on to the road -- a potential Test match against injury, he will commence be fit to play Australia in mountain range -- just one of the peril to the cyclists below. Australia on August 1, the a rehabilitation pro- the first Test at ranges in Gilgit -- the road The threat of danger was in ECB has said. gramme with the England Edgbaston. passes through an extraordinary stark contrast with the joyful Shaheen Afridi Anderson, 36, left the and Lancashire medical Australia are the landscape. welcome the cyclists received in field during a County teams. holders of the Ashes after Soaring, jagged peaks con- villages along the route, with res-

Championship match “Anderson will miss winning the series 4-0 at trast with vertiginous ravines, idents playing traditional instru- against Durham after he Lancashire’s next two home in 2017-18. glaciers driving a chill wind, and ments to cheer them on. 18 SPORT MONDAY 8 JULY 2019

Messi sent off as Argentina take 3rd place

AP There was lack of respect toward us during and shoulders and Paraguayan Paraguayan referee Mario Diaz SAO PAULO this event. We could have done better, referee Mario Diaz de Vivar came de Vivar shows the red card to but they didn’t let us make it to the final. in to immediately send both players Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Chile’s For a match that didn’t mean much, off. Gary Medel during the Copa America there was a lot going on as Corruption and referees are not letting the “A yellow card should have third-place match. Argentina defeated Chile 2-1 to fans enjoy. This is ruining football: Messi been enough for both players,” finish third in the Copa América on Messi said. Saturday. Messi had also received a It ended with Lionel Messi victory. the first-half shoving match with straight red card in his national being sent off and boycotting the When asked if he didn’t fear Messi at the Arena Corinthians. team debut with Argentina in a medal ceremony to protest the being suspended for his comments, Sergio Agüero and Paulo friendly against Hungary in 2005. refereeing. Messi said “the truth needed to be Dybala scored early for Argentina, Argentina opened the scoring “We shouldn’t take part in this told.” and Arturo Vidal put Chile on the after Messi quickly took a free kick corruption,” an unusually out- CONMEBOL, South America’s board with a second-half penalty with a long through ball to Agüero, spoken Messi said. soccer confederation, later released kick. who went past goalkeeper Gabriel “There was lack of respect a statement condemning the Chile had beaten Argentina in Arias before finding the net in the toward us during this Copa “unacceptable” and “baseless accu- the final in 2015 and 2016, both 12th minute. There was some com- America. We could have done sations” that discredited the Copa times in penalty shootouts. plaint that the ball was rolling better, but they didn’t let us make América’s integrity. It was a heated match from the when Messi took the free kick that it to the final. Corruption and the “In football, sometimes you start in São Paulo, with many hard caught the Chilean defense by referees are not letting the fans lose and sometimes you win,” the fouls from both sides and alterca- surprise. enjoy football. This is ruining statement said. tions involving several players. Dybala added to the lead with football.” “One of the fundamental pillars None was bigger than the one a shot from inside the area in the Messi had already complained of fair play is to accept the results sparked by the Messi-Medel con- 22nd, and Vidal gave Chile hope of about the refereeing after Argen- and the refereeing decisions with frontation that led to the red card a recovery by converting a penalty tina’s loss to Brazil in the semi- respect.” for both players in the 37th minute. awarded by video review in the finals, hinting the result was Messi was sent off after getting It started when Medel wasn’t 59th. expected because the hosts were involved in an altercation in a tense happy that Messi came in from Argentina is enduring a allegedly in charge of South third-place game between the behind to try to gain possession. 26-year title drought with the American soccer. rivals from the last two finals of the The Chilean turned around to con- senior team. Messi’s only title with He said he expected Brazil to South American competition. front the Argentine star, who didn’t Argentina was with the under-23 win final against Peru, claiming it Veteran Chile midfielder Gary back down. They started to bump squad at the 2008 Beijing was already set up for the hosts’ Medel also was red carded after into each other with their chests Olympics. CONMEBOL SA stun Salah, Egypt at African Cup fires back at REUTERS of the 90 minutes. “Salah is an CAIRO unbelievable player,” Baxter said. “We knew that if he gets Messi jibe Tipped to win the title, Egypt one look at the goal, we could and Mohamed Salah didn’t be going back to AFP even make the quarter-finals Johannesburg.” RIO DE JANEIRO at the African Cup of Nations Trezeguet had a couple as the host and favourite was more opportunities. His best South American football governing body stunned 1-0 by South Africa was when he was played in on CONMEBOL hit back at Argentine superstar and knocked out in the last 16 goal by Salah but hit a shot Lionel Messi on Saturday after he accused on Saturday. straight at South Africa ‘keeper the body of corruption. South Africa’s defence Ronwen Williams. Messi reacted after he was sent-off stifled Salah, setting the South Africa wasn’t only during Argentina’s 2-1 victory in the third platform for striker Them- about defending. Bafana place play-off against Chile earlier in the binkosi Lorch to score the Bafana also forced a series of day. winning goal on a counter- saves from el-Shenawy in the The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was attack with five minutes left. Egypt goal, including a full- involved in a tangle with Chile captain Gary That silenced 75,000 fans at stretch fingertip stop from Medel in which Messi appeared to do Cairo International Stadium Percy Tau’s curling free kick. nothing wrong, but both players were given who were expecting to see the South Africa was probably their marching orders by referee Mario home team march on toward the better team and the reward Diaz de Vivar. the final. for one of its most memorable “It’s unacceptable that as a result of Lorch was on his own in South Africa’s midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch (left) celebrates after scoring a goal during the results ever at an African Cup incidents that are a regular part of compe- front of goal as South Africa 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match against Egypt in Cairo on Saturday night. INSET: is a quarterfinal against tition... unfounded and untrue accusations caught Egypt out in the final Egypt’s Mohamed Salah reacts after the goal. Nigeria. have been launched that call into question minutes. Lebo Mothiba played Nigeria earlier beat the integrity of the Copa America,” said the ball across to him with whistle went. Some of his passionate followers in their exit in 2004. It was made defending champion Cam- CONMEBOL in a statement posted on its Egyptian defenders scrambling team-mates lay on the ground quest to win a record- worse by the fact that Egypt eroon 3-2 in a wild last-16 social media accounts. to get back into position and and fans in the stands put their extending eighth African title has arguably Africa’s best game. Earlier, Messi was scathing in his attack Lorch side-footed past goal- hands on their heads in dis- for the country but the first player in Liverpool forward Nigeria scored first before on CONMEBOL and the competition’s ref- keeper Mohamed el-Shenawy belief. Some were in tears. since 2010. This tournament Salah. Cameroon replied with two erees after Argentina felt aggrieved for the and into the bottom right Meanwhile, the South also meant more to Egypt than The secret was the way goals in three minutes at the second match running. corner of the net. African players ran to a corner just sport. The country has South Africa and coach Stuart end of the first half to lead 2-1. He even accused the governing body The stadium went so quiet of the cavernous stadium been rocked by unrest and Baxter devised tactics to shut Nigeria did the same to go of favouring hosts Brazil. that Lorch said his first thought where a tiny pocket of their violence for nearly a decade down the supply to Salah on ahead again with two goals in “Corruption and the referees are pre- was that the goal had been supporters celebrated. and it was hoped Salah and the the right wing and Mahmoud a three-minute spell after venting people from enjoying the football disallowed. Salah and Egypt lost the soccer team could bring some Trezeguet on the left, stifling halftime. and they’re ruining it a bit,” said the global Egypt threw together a run African Cup final two years respite - and some joy. Egypt’s playmakers. Odion Ighalo scored two star. of attacks in the final five ago but they were expected to Instead, Saturday’s exit Salah had a half-chance in of Nigeria’s goals and Alex “I think there’s no doubt that Brazil are minutes but couldn’t equalise put that right this year. They was Egypt’s worst per- the fourth minute when he Iwobi snatched the winner in going to be champions. The Copa is and Salah slumped over, had home advantage, backed formance at a Cup of Nations fired a left-foot shot just wide. the 66th to put the 2013 weighted towards Brazil,” he added. hands on knees, when the final by tens of thousands of anywhere since a group stage That was his clearest opening champion into the quarters.

Repsol Honda Team’s Decade of dominance for Marquez Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates on the podium after his victory, REUTERS GERMAN MOTOGP RESULTS then push. And it’s exactly (now Moto3). He won in yesterday. BERLIN what I did, everything was in Moto2 in 2011 and 2012 and 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 41min 08.276sec, 2. Maverick Vinales the plan. And then step by is on a sequence of seven in MotoGP champion Marc (ESP/Yamaha) at 4.587, 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 7.741, 4. step I opened the gap and MotoGP. French rookie Fabio Marquez kept his crown as Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 16.577, 5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) when it was three seconds I Quartararo made the best start ‘King of the Ring’ with a 10th 16.669, 6. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 16.836, 7. Joan Mir (ESP/ stayed there. from second on the grid on the successive German Grand Suzuki) 17.156, 8. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 19.110, 9. Franco Mor- “In the end I was just Petronas Yamaha but was Prix victory, across all bidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 20.634, 10. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) riding, enjoying, thinking swamped by others into the classes, yesterday to stretch 22.708 about my brother (Alex, first corner, with Marquez then his overall lead to 58 points. Moto2 Results winner of the Moto2 race).” leading away comfortably. The Honda rider, who Marquez celebrated with Spaniard Alex Rins 1. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) 39min 35.101sec, 2. Brad Binder (RSA/ also started on pole position fans trackside after taking moved into second place for

at the Sachsenring for the KTM) at 1.208, 3. Marcel Schrotter (GER/Kalex) 1.630, 4. Fabio Di Gian- the chequered flag before Suzuki but he also crashed 10th year in a row, completed nantonio (ITA/Speed Up) 4.116, 5. Thomas Lüthi (SUI/Kalex) 5.191 completing his lap back to out 12 laps from the end, with his decade of dominance by the pits towing a party Vinales and Crutchlow then taking the chequered flag balloon in the shape of the battling for the runner-up 4.587 seconds clear of works Marquez has 185 points was perfect. “It was not the number 10 on a string over slot until the Briton eased off Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales. after nine of 19 races with best start but then in the first his shoulder. towards the finish. Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, Italian Andrea Dovizioso his corner I braked so late,” he Marquez’s run of wins at MotoGP now starts its on an LCR Honda, was third closest rival on 127 after fin- said. the eastern German circuit four-week summer break behind the two Spaniards ishing fifth for Ducati. “Then just my plan was, near Chemnitz started in before regrouping in Brno for despite suffering a fractured The Spaniard, in a league two laps slow to warm well 2010 when he was com- the Czech Grand Prix on tibia earlier in the week. of his own, said the strategy the front tyre especially, and peting in the 125cc category August 4. MONDAY 8 JULY 2019 SPORT 19 Qatar Prix Jean Prat a huge success in Deauville

THE PENINSULA and John Gosden-saddled winner when asked to quicken. I think that DEAUVILLE, FRANCE barely broke sweat. Given a very he will stay a mile on a flat track. good ride by Lanfranco Dettori, the We will mull matters over with Too Darn Hot was the hot favourite colt stormed home in the final 400 John Gosden, but I’m of the opinion in the Qatar Prix Jean Prat and he metres and won with any amount that a race such as the Prix Jacques lived up to the expectations by in hand. Le Marois would suit”. notching a stylish win in Deauville, It was the colt’s first win since The day included two listed France, yesterday. taking the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1) races and the James Tate-saddled As part of the Qatar Racing & as a juvenile. It also marked the Far Above was the winner of the Equestrian Club’s (QREC) strategy colt’s return to 1,400 metres, first of them; namely Qatar Prix to enhance Qatar’s presence at the having been tried over longer Kistena. It is his third win in his four world’s top racing events, the Qatar trips when his stamina was found career starts and his first listed Prix Jean Prat was run in wanting. success so far. Deauville. Following Enable’s victory in Al Shaqab Racing’s Duhail was The 2019 renewal of the Group the Gr 1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown, the runner-up under jockey 1 race, reserved for three-year-olds UK on Saturday, the duo, Gosden- Vincent Cheminaud for trainer A. over 1,400 metres, was the feature Dettori made a quick-double fire Fabre. event of the fully sponsored eight- by landing the Gr 1 Qatar Prix Jean The winning jockey, Patrick- race day. Prat at Deauville, France Joseph (PJ) McDonald said: “He’s a QREC Board Member, Ahmad yesterday. very good horse and has so much Mohammed Alabdulmalik, was Frankie Dettori lauded Too speed. The initial pace wasn’t present at the meeting and he pre- Darn Hot’s performance. strong enough for him. However, The winners of the Qatar Prix Jean Prat receiving the trophy from Qatar Racing & Equestrian sented the trophies to the winners. “He has a lot of speed”, he said. once he got going, I knew I was Club’s Board Member, Ahmad Mohammed Alabdulmalik, in Deauville, yesterday. The Lord Lloyd Webber-owned “He really picked up the pace going to win.” Al Attiyah off to flying start in Serbia

THE PENINSULA BAIKALSK, RUSSIA

Overdrive Racing held first and third positions after the opening stage of the 2019 Silk Way Rally between the Eastern Siberian city of Irkutsk and the nearby town of Baikalsk yesterday. The opening day offered a short competitive section of 50.87km in a day’s route of 255.53km on a track through the Russian ‘Taiga’ forest. Competitors then stayed in the small industrial town of Baikalsk, which was only founded in 1961 with the opening of a paper mill at nearby Lake Baikal. The town is situated in the Slyudyansky dis- trict of the Irkutsk Oblast. Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his French co-driver Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in action at the opening stage of the 2019 Silk Way Rally between the Eastern Siberian city of rkutskI and the nearby town of Baikalsk Matthieu Baumel carded a time yesterday. RIGHT: Nasser and Matthieu at the start of the Silk Way Rally. of 29min 24sec on the opening timed test to carve out a slender advantage of 2min 32sec over the Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his French Irkutsk. Today teams will tackle 2019 Silk Way Rally Frenchman Jérôme Pelichet. co-driver Matthieu Baumel carded a time of a selective section of 212.02km 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) It was a case of not making in a day’s route of 413.63km Toyota Hilux Overdrive 29min 24sec any mistakes with such a long 29min 24sec on the opening timed test to carve between the town of Baikalsk 2. Jérôme Pelichet (FRA)/Pascal Larroque (FRA) Optimus and daunting challenge ahead out a slender advantage of 2min 32sec over the and Ulan-Ude in Russia before 31min 56sec over the coming nine days and Frenchman Jérôme Pelichet. the route crosses the frontier into 3. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Dirk von Zitzewitz (DEU) Toyota Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi neighbouring Mongolia Hilux Overdrive 32min 33sec and German navigator Dirk von tomorrow . 4. Wang Xiang (CHN)/Yang Tao (CHN) Volkswagen Tarek Zitzewitz settled into third time in the third Toyota Hilux back into the top five on the first Located in Eastern Siberia, 32min 51sec place just 37 seconds behind and lost a few minutes to their of the longer stages today. Ulan-Ude is the capital city of the 5. Yungang Zi (CHN)/Zengrong Wang (CHN) Hanwei SMG Pelichet. leading rivals. The fact that it was The event got underway on Republic of Buryatia and is located Buggy 33min 43sec 6. Matthieu Serradori (FRA)/Fabian Dutchman Erik van Loon such a short stage pushed the Saturday afternoon with the cer- 100km southeast of Lake Baikal on Lurquin (BEL) Century CR6 34min 00sec teamed up with Frenchman Dutchman down to 23rd overall, emonial start ceremony in Sper- the confluence of the Uda and Sebastien Delaunay for the first but he will be looking to leap ansky Square in the centre of Selenga rivers. Rizlan’s last-ball six helps Qatar Wimbledon targets beat Kuwait 2-1 in T20 series Asian fans ‘nirvana’ THE PENINSULA DOHA with lite app Mohammad Rizlan blasted a last-ball six to clinch a thrilling three-match Twenty20 International Series for Qatar against AFP Kuwait 2-1 at the Asia Town Cricket Stadium on Saturday. LONDON with up to 180 staff capturing 4.8 Chasing a stiff 204-run target, hosts Qatar required four million bits of information. runs off the final delivery and Rizlan cleared the fence with Wimbledon has unleashed a new Their statisticians have been a mighty heave to wrap up a five-wicket victory. lightweight app to try and hook the refining their artificial intelligence- Earlier, Mohammad Tanveer smashed 50 and skipper growing tennis-loving market in Asia, generated video clips. Tamoor Sajjad cracked 37. while AI-generated highlights are By monitoring a mixture of crowd Useful contributions from Kamran Khan and Inam-Ul- getting smarter at spotting the most noise, match analysis of key moments Haq prepared the launch pad for Rizlan, who collected an exciting action. such as break points and player reac- entertaining 38 . The official Wimbledon app is tions, an overall excitement factor is Ilyas had a three-wicket haul, while Kashif, Morshed and packed with heavy graphics but the produced for each passage of play. Adnan shared the remaining wickets. new, slimmed-down alternative is But IBM has detected inadvertent Kuwait, batting first, piled up a challenging 203 for five designed for fans in places with poorer bias in the AI system, which this year with Ravija hammering 88 and Adnan getting 80. Mohammad bandwidth and older smartphones -- it has managed to iron out. Awais Malik grabbed two scalps. Inam-Ul-Haq and Iabal especially India. Seddon gave the example of a Chaudhry had one each. The prestigious tennis tournament three-hour epic match on Centre Qatar and Kuwait shared the first two T20’s, played on reckons it can potentially reach Court. Thursday and Friday. several hundred million people in “The place is full and everyone is The two teams played the international series, held at India who are interested in the cham- screaming and cheering,” he said. the initiative of the Qatar Cricket Association President Yousef pionships but can only download data Once it finishes, people step out Jeham Al Kuwari. over slow mobile phone networks. for a breather. He was present during the closing ceremony to hand the The slimmer app has lightweight “It doesn’t matter who comes on prizes and trophies to the two teams in presence of other scores, results, headlines and the order next, the crowd noise will be dif- QCA officials. Team Manager Abdullah Mahmood and captain of play. “India is one of the largest ferent,” Seddon explained. received the trophy for Kuwait. The winning trophy was social media audiences for them glo- “Same court, same high-profile received by skipper Sajjad, Team Manager Gul Khan Jadoon bally,” said Sam Seddon, IBM’s client players, same high quality of tennis, and coach Shahid Mehbood. executive for Wimbledon. but the highlights could be inadvert- Qatar’s Mohammad Rizlan poses with his award at the end QCA President Al Kuwari praised Qatar team for their “That’s the nirvana fan base.” ently treated differently.” of the three-match Twenty20 International Series against fighting spirit and winning performance. He also wished Wimbledon is also producing a The AI system has this year learnt good luck to the national team for the upcoming events. Kuwait at the Asia Town Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Chinese scoreboard that can be how to recognise ball strikes so clips The series was organised for the ranking purpose and embedded into websites in a bid to can automatically be trimmed to when preparations for the upcoming five-team Asian Regional The winner will advance to play in the 2019 ICC T20 reach a bigger Chinese audience. a point starts. Last year, the AI high- Finals Qualifiers to be held in Singapore from July 22 to 28. World Cup Qualifier, to be organised by the UAE in October Every single shot at Wimbledon is lights garnered more than 14 million Besides Qatar and Kuwait, Nepal, Malaysia and Singapore and November this year to spot the qualifiers for the ICC T20 logged by US technology giants IBM, video views. are the participating teams. World Cup, which will be staged by Australia in 2020. MONDAY 8 JULY 2019 20

PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Messi sent off Qatar’s Al Attiyah as Argentina off to flying start take 3rd place in Serbia

Qatar takes USA down Netherlands 2-0 to part in FIA Senate meet retain Women’s World Cup in Paris

AFP the breakthrough goal here QNA LYON should come from a VAR- PARIS awarded penalty, with French The United States retained the referee Stephanie Frappart ini- Qatar Motor and Motorcycle women’s World Cup yesterday tially giving a corner before Federation (QMMF) President as a Megan Rapinoe penalty and pointing to the spot following a Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al a superb Rose Lavelle strike gave review. Mannai, took part in the annual the holders a 2-0 victory over a The whippet-like Lavelle, meeting of the International battling Netherlands side in the another stand-out performer Automobile Federation (FIA) final in Lyon. over the last month, got the Senate, which was held in Paris, Having been kept at bay by second in the 69th minute, killing at the Invitation of the FIA Pres- the brilliant Dutch goalkeeper off Dutch hopes of a comeback. ident Jean Todt. Sari van Veenendaal throughout The victory underlines the The invitation for the Qatar the first half, the USA finally went USA’s status as the dominant Federation came in light Qatar’s ahead just after the hour as force in international women’s leadership in the field of Rapinoe stroked home from 12 football as they claim the World women’s empowerment in dif- yards to end the tournament as Cup for the fourth time in eight ferent spheres, especially joint top scorer on six goals. editions. sports. There was an air of inevita- “It’s unbelievable. All the In its meeting agenda, the bility about the pink-haired people in our group that put in so FIA Senate focused on dis- 34-year-old, the star of this much effort. I don’t know how to Megan Rapinoe of the US and team-mates celebrate cussing the current status of World Cup on and off the field, feel right now, it’s ridiculous,” winning the Women’s World Cup final against Netherlands women and the progress they putting the USA ahead. Rapinoe told the BBC. at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France, yesterday. recently made in motorsport. It also seemed inevitable that She ended the tournament The plan to enable women to participate in the sports, tech- with the Golden Ball for the best double success, two years after nical and administrative field player ahead of England’s Lucy they won Euro 2017 on home soil. of motor sports was also Bronze and teammate Lavelle, Whether the Americans presented. while also winning the Golden can continue this domination On the sidelines of the Boot as her six goals came from on to the next World Cup It’s unbelievable. meeting, the President of fewer minutes on the field than remains to be seen, not least All the people in QMMF met with president of teammate Alex Morgan or Eng- because Rapinoe is already in our group that put the FIA Jean Todt and Prince land’s Ellen White. the twilight years of her in so much effort. I Faisal bin Al Hussein, President The USA were already the career. of Jordan’s Royal Automobile first team to appear in three con- She was brought back into don’t know how to Club. The meeting discussed secutive finals, and Jill Ellis the starting line-up here by Ellis feel right now, it’s issues related to motor sport. becomes the first coach to win having sat out the victory over ridiculous: Rapinoe Todt paid tribute to the role back-to-back World Cups in the England in the last four due to a played by Qatar in motorsport men’s or women’s game since hamstring problem. She later and praised the new changes Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s. went off to a loud ovation from USA from winning by a greater introduced to the statutes of The USA had been the only the massed ranks of USA fans. margin. QMMF which will contribute to non-European team to make it At a tournament which has The 29-year-old, who has the development of motor Golden Glove winner Netherlands’ goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal, to the quarter-finals here, but showcased the improving spent the last four years at sport. Golden Boot winner United States’ forward Megan Rapinoe (centre) they had already ended the hopes standards of goalkeeping in Arsenal, had already excelled in Al Mannai expressed hap- and Silver boot winner United States’ forward Alex Morgan (right) of the hosts and England before women’s football, the excellent her team’s win over Sweden in piness at the special invitation pose for a picture after the final match. denying the Dutch a dream Van Veenendaal prevented the the semi-finals. for the QMMF to attend the meeting. “We appreciate the invi- tation extended to the feder- ation, in recognition to the State Wimbledon: Big Three in ominous form of Qatar’s international repu- tation in the field of motor sport” AFP LONDON tackles Italy’s world number 20 champion in 2008 and 2010, Djokovic insists he will not be Al Mannai said that the Matteo Berrettini in what will be also has an unexpected opponent complacent about his chances President of the FIA valued the the Swiss great’s record 17th in the shape of world number 69 of reaching the final for the sixth great role played by Qatar as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and fourth round appearance at the Joao Sousa, the first Portuguese time. The highest seed that the well as its attention to women’s Novak Djokovic (pictured) , with All England Club. player to reach the fourth round world number one can face sport and participation in 14 Wimbledon titles between “I don’t know him very well, at Wimbledon. before the final is number 15 motor sport. He called for the them, dominate ‘at the All so that makes it a bit more Nadal has a 2-0 career Milos Raonic, the 2016 runner- participation of women in England Club with the ‘Big Three’ tricky,” said Federer, chasing a advantage over the 30-year-old up from Canada. management and technical still standing while weary rivals 21st Grand Slam title. Sousa, with both wins coming But first up for the defending matters in addition to partici- have again flattered to deceive. “I saw him play a little bit in on clay. champion and 16-time major pating in races. Eight-time champion Halle (where he made the semi- “He’s a super dangerous winner is 21-year-old Ugo “I have met with the Pres- Federer, four-time winner finals). Saw his run, of course, in opponent against everybody. He Humbert from France who is ident of the FIA and discussed Djokovic and Nadal, a double Stuttgart (which Berrettini won). is very quick, has a very good playing in his first Wimbledon. many topics that contribute to champion, all play last 16 ties “Now he’s backing it up here physical performance,” said “There were a lot of top the development of motorsport against opponents who have again. That’s not easy to do, Nadal, looking to back up his seeds that went out in early and focus on events in Qatar,” never progressed this far before. especially when you’re sort of 12th Roland Garros title last rounds in Wimbledon,” said Al Mannai said adding that the Federer, the second seed, newer on the tour.” Nadal, the month with a third Wimbledon. Djokovic. meeting was fruitful and constructive. Teunissen stays in yellow as Jumbo win Tour time trial

REUTERS keeping Teunissen, the first sprint after the team’s main BRUSSELS Dutchman to don the yellow man jersey since 1989, in the lead, the crashed. “We went hard from the Dutchman Mike Teunissen clung eight Jumbo-Visma riders, almost start. Everybody kept their pace. on to the yellow jersey for matching him in the team’s Yesterday it was a We heard we were the fastest (at another day as his Jumbo-Visma yellow-and-black kit, flew dream, and it’s the the splits). It gave us a lot of morale. team powered to victory in the around the capital like a swarm case today again.We We were flying.” Tour de France’s second stage of wasps, beating the British went hard from the While it was hard for Ineos yesterday -- a 27.6-km team time outfit by 20 seconds. to lose out at the death, it was still trial around the streets of Three of their riders were start. Everybody kept a productive day for Thomas and Brussels. dropped but Teunissen, Steven their pace. We heard co-leader Egan Bernal, who put It had looked as though first Kruijswijk, , Wout we were the fastest time between themselves and team out Team Ineos, with van Aert and roared some of their GC rivals. defending Tour champion to the finish next to the city’s (at the splits). It gave Frenchman Romain Bardet Geraint Thomas leading them iconic Atomium landmark in 28 us a lot of morale. We (AG2R-Mondiale) lost 59 seconds home, had put down an ominous minutes 58 seconds. were flying: Teunissen on the Ineos duo although he will marker as the next 21 teams They averaged an astonishing feel he can claw that damage Dutch rider Mike Teunissen (left) wearing his overall leader’s yellow could not match them. 57.2kph, a fraction lower than the back when the road goes up, but jersey celebrates their victory with a team-mate of Netherlands’ But Jumbo-Visma, the last to Tour de France TT record set in and it’s the case today again,” Australian Richie Porte’s Trek- start, obliterated them. 2013. said the 26-year-old Teunissen, Segafredo finished 58 seconds Jumbo-Visma cycling team on the finish line of the second stage With the motivation of “Yesterday it was a dream, who won Saturday’s bunch slower. of Tour de France race, yesterday